A wake-up call, courtesy of Wal-Mart

There probably are plenty of people who arrive early at Target’s headquarters, but first-time attendees at Wal-Mart’s shareholders’ meeting are always amazed at how early the event begins, and at the raucous manner in which it begins.

That was the case with comedian/movie star Ben Stiller, who kicked off the meeting last Friday at 7 a.m. by participating in an opening number that included a marching band and a collegiate cheer team, performing what was billed as the ultimate Wal-Mart cheer.

“Man, you guys like to get up early,” Stiller said to the audience as he remained on stage following the cheer to preside over the meeting held at Bud Walton Arena on the campus of the University of Arkansas. When he added, “I hear they are still sleeping at Target,” loud applause erupted from the audience of roughly 15,000, many of whom had waited in line for doors to open at 6 a.m.

Target’s annual meeting the preceding week began at 1 p.m. and was held in a soon-to-open store in Waukesha, Wis.